Tree Lighting Celebration at Downtown Cary Park

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About this adventure

Cary's official start to the holidays is a free, day-long Tree Lighting Celebration at Downtown Cary Park on Saturday, Dec 5, 2026, building up to the lighting of the town tree on Frantz Square Lawn at 6 pm. The morning opens with the Cary Farmers Holiday Market on East Park Street (9 am to noon), and Santa takes photos in the Gathering House from 10 am to 5 pm. From noon a holiday vendor market fills South Academy Street, and the afternoon is busy for children: an art cart at The Nest Pavilion, reindeer games in the Park Street Arena, a snowball fight area, face painting and a holiday photo backdrop on Frantz Square Plaza, most of it running from 2 to 6 pm. Community groups perform on the Great Lawn Pavilion stage from 3 to 5:15 pm. The event is free and suitable for all ages. Academy Street between Park Street and Dry Avenue closes to cars from 11 am to 10 pm, so plan to park in a town lot and walk in; The Nest playground in the park is a good place to let little ones burn off energy before the lights come on.